Rationing and drills

• Petrol Rationing:

  • Introduced in Australia in October 1940 to manage fuel shortages and prioritize military needs.
• Austerity Measures: 

  • In August 1942, Prime Minister John Curtin called for a “season of austerity,” urging Australians to give up comfort and adopt rationing due to shortages.
• Rationing System:

  • The government distributed ration books requiring the use of coupons and money to purchase items like butter, meat, sugar, tea, clothing, and footwear according to specified quantities. Rationing ended between 1947 and 1950, depending on the product.
• Air Raid Preparations:

  • From late 1941, Australians prepared for air raids by building air-raid trenches and shelters, conducting drills, and appointing local air-raid precaution (ARP) wardens for bomb disposal and security checks.